If you are buying dog food bowls, leashes, and pooper scoopers that could be a clue!
Before adding a dog to your family there are some questions to answer that will help determine if you are ready to make a lifetime commitment.

These are some reasons people have listed for surrendering their pets to an animal shelter:

1. Allergies. Are your close relatives, or frequent guests to your home allergic to dogs?
2. Moving. Will your landlord allow pets? Do you own a home? If you plan on moving in the near future will you take your pet? Who will take the dog if you were to be in different circumstances, such as a divorce?
3. Time. Do you have time to train your pup not to bite, to be house trained, to be obedience trained? Is their time after a busy day for you to walk, play with and exercise a dog or will this pack animal be unfairly alone most of its life?
4. Dog isn’t what was expected. Do you care if the dog sheds, drools water and messes up the car windows?  Are you prepared for some (hopefully minor) home damage? Have you considered the size of an adult of the breed you want?
5. Other pets. Do you have other pets that the new dog must get along with and how are you prepared to deal with it if they can't?
6. Commitment. Are you willing to make a lifetime commitment to a dog? They can live up to 15 years or so.
7. Too much work. Is a capable, responsible adult going be an overseer of the care of this pet and be willing to take over should a child or teen not fulfill his/her duties?
8. Money. Being rich isn’t a consideration, but if your dog were found to have hip dysplasia or some other physical problem how are you prepared to deal with it?

How large a dog are you considering? How much exercise can you tolerate? Will a Great Pyrenees fill your VW and suck up all your air or are you thinking smaller...such as a cocker spaniel?
To adopt an adult dog, a shelter or rescue is the place to start. Rescuing a dog often means, literally, rescuing it’s life. These dogs may or may not have behavioral problems but some time and dedication will earn you a grateful companion. It is very rewarding to adopt a dog from a rescue or shelter. Don’t be surprised if you must do some retraining with your new pet. Shelter dogs can cost around $100-250 dollars and usually include all shots, a vet visit and often some help with spaying/neutering.

Are you going to buy a puppy from a breeder or a friend? Puppy prices can start at $100 and go over $1,000. They all should come with a health certificate from a vet and you should only take a puppy AFTER 8 weeks of age. Be wary about buying from a back yard breeder who has no previous experience, doesn't know what "temperament" encompasses, and does not prove health testing such as; hip xrays, eye clearances, no veneral diseases of their dogs. Each breed presents a host of things that can go wrong and all need be addressed by the breeder.

 If buying from a pet store be aware that you can’t see the sire or dam on the premises in order to judge what their temperament is like and some purchases made in stores allow puppy mills to continue functioning. Most of these dogs are from southern mills that treat their animals very poorly and some never see a vet.

Talk to more than one breeder before purchasing any puppy.You want to know what guarantees and health certificates you will get, and a record of shots they have already received.  If you are looking for a pet quality dog you will have different needs than if you are planning on showing and breeding your animal.

Are the sire and dam healthy, happy, friendly examples of the breed? Temperament is partially inherited so you want the parents to be eager to meet you--this doesn’t apply to ALL breeds as some breeds are naturally aloof, such as a German Shepherd or Afghan.  In general, you want non-aggressive parents with energy and a willingness to approach you in a gentle or friendly manner.  The dam shouldn’t be under 2 years of age.

You want a breeder who doesn’t breed adult dogs with serious faults such as an overbite, hip displaysia, heart problems or severe allergies that will be present in your pup. Responsible breeders strive to improve breed characteristics, their goal is an ideal of the breed. Don’t hesitate to ask a breeder how he/she is improving the breed.  No dog is perfect but it is in the animal’s and buyer’s best interest if breeders strive to achieve a goal by improving what they start with.

Do not purchase any puppy that is not 8 weeks or older...it is against some state laws!  Pups need the extra time to bond with their littermates, to play without biting hard and to be weaned properly.

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